Vera Baird DBE KC

Chair Criminal Cases Review Commission. Member Women’s Justice Bd.
Ex Victims’ Commissioner, Solicitor Gen & PCC. Fellow St Hilda’s Oxford. Writer. Labour Party

Category: Media

  • The Guardian – 26th September 2014. “Police Commissioners seek inquiry…”

    North East Police & Crime Commissioners say Judge Moorhouse\’s lax sentence told women that \”male judges will not protect them\”

    Read more by clicking here www.theguardian.com/society/2014/sep/26/police-commissioners-inquiry-judge-leniency-domestic-abuse

  • North East Commissioners call for Judge to be investigated.

    Commissioners call for Judge to be investigated

    The north east’s three Police and Crime Commissioners are calling on the Judicial Conduct and Investigations Office to investigate a Teesside Judge who let down a victim of domestic abuse.

    It follows the court case of a 34-year-old man, who was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and given a 12 month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months.

    Teesside Crown Court heard how the man had terrorised his wife by biting and throttling her, before holding a knife to her throat and shooting her in the toe during a terrifying attack.

    Even after the police became involved, the man attempted to intimidate the victim to drop the charges but the victim went ahead and ensured the matter was dealt with by the courts.

    Sadly, the court and Judge George Moorhouse did not deliver for this victim of domestic abuse and the three Commissioners – Northumbria’s Vera Baird, Barry Coppinger from Cleveland and Durham’s Ron Hogg – feel the sentence was unduly lenient.

    Vera Baird said: “Judge Moorhouse does not appreciate that he has a role to play in stopping the epidemic crime of domestic violence and abuse. This sentence sends out the totally wrong message to victims of this crime.”

    Mrs Baird added: “Barry Coppinger, Ron Hogg and myself have worked hard to deliver a regional strategy to help protect women and girls who are affected by domestic violence and abuse.

    “We’ve changed the culture in how the police deal with such cases and our partners work much closer together to offer support and guidance to victims, then we are let down by the courts with lenient sentences like this.”

    In a letter to the Judicial Conduct and Investigations Office, the three Commissioners say Judge Moorhouse needs to be accountable for his actions and to understand that his conduct is not acceptable.

    They said the Judge had sent out the wrong message to women not just in the north east but across the country that male judges will not take a role in protecting them or deterring the crime from which they suffer.

    The Commissioners also feel that all Judges should undergo training to learn about the effects of domestic abuse and how it hurts both the victims and their families.

    Vera Baird added: “I don’t want victims of domestic abuse to be put off from telling the police what is happening to them.

    “We’ve dedicated police staff who will help and support victims. We are on the side of victims and will continue to support them in every way we can.

    “There are good Judges who give proper verdicts that fit the crime and we now need to make sure all Judges are of the same mindset.”

  • Commissioner joins stars of the stage and screen in support of ending rape and sexual violence in Burma

    Commissioner joins stars of the stage and screen in support of ending rape and sexual violence in Burma

    Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird has joined forces with well-known names from the world of stage, comedy and music.

    She has joined Maureen Lipman, Dame Judi Dench, Jo Brand and Annie Lennox in support to end rape and sexual violence in Burma

    A new report by the Women’s League of Burma (WLB) ‘Same Impunity, Same Pattern’, highlights the continuing use of sexual violence against minority women by the Burmese military.

    Ethnic women and girls suffer horrific sexual abuse while military perpetrators enjoy guaranteed impunity.

    When Vera Baird was a Member of Parliament, she used to Chair the All Parliamentary Group for Burma and her interest in the country has remained ever since.

    Mrs Baird said: “Burma needs the support of developed countries and we all have a duty to stand up to support the women of Burma in their struggle to end rape and sexual violence.”

    The Commissioner added: “Celebrities from the world of stage, comedy, music and politics have joined together to support a list of demands which have been made by the women of Burma.”

    These demands include:

    ·        An international investigation into rape and sexual violence by the Burmese military against ethnic women and girls.

    ·        An end to impunity for rape and other forms of sexual violence in Burma.

    ·        Amendment of the 2008 constitution that guarantees impunity for military perpetrators, so further sexual violence can be prevented.

    ·        The inclusion of women in the peace negotiations between the Burmese Government and the ethnic armed political groups, where the issue of rape and sexual violence in conflict is properly addressed.

    ·        The inclusion of women at every political level in Burma.

    ·        Burma’s rape law to be in line with international human rights standards to outlaw rape in marriage.

    ·        The British Government should provide funding for the Women’s League of Burma and its members to support their work in documenting cases of rape and providing support for victims of sexual violence.

    Northumbria’s Commissioner has also asked the Secretary of State for International Development Justine Greening to support the campaign.

  • Justice Secretary, Chris Grayling MP: His actions don’t follow his words


    Today, Justice Secretary, Chris Grayling MP, has announced a package of measures about the  treatment of victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system.  Yet his own Victims Commissioner has doubts and Police & Crime Commissioner for Northumbria, Vera Baird remains skeptical about his commitment to deliver.

    Under Grayling’s proposals, he states victims will be kept informed about their case, courts will allow personal impact statements to be read out.  Other measures announced include setting up a victims information service from March 2015 and allowing more child witnesses to film their evidence before a trial starts.

    However, the Government’s Victims Commissioner, Baroness Newlove has questioned how his proposals would differ in practice from the existing victims’ code.

    Baroness Newlove believes a new law cannot be used as a quick fix

    Northumbria’s Police & Crime Commissioner, Vera Baird QC, said “Let’s be absolutely clear, Chris Grayling is the Secretary of State who has cut compensation to victims to the bone, he has scrapped legal aid for victims of sexual and domestic abuse.  It was Chris Grayling and his government who tried to stop part of the funding support that currently goes to the families of murder victims.  So I am doubtful whether he means what he says, as victims have never been at the heart of this government.” 

    Putting victims first is a commitment Vera Baird has given in her Police & Crime Plan for residents of Northumbria. From April 2015, responsibility for some victims services falls to Police & Crime Commissioners. Vera Baird has consulted on an outline strategy, is mapping the need for services and, working with local authorities and other responsible authorities, will devise a final joint strategy that will ensure that local services for victims are the best that can be jointly provided. Victims will always be at the centre of the criminal justice system in our region. 

    Mrs Baird commented on the fact that victim impact statements will become law, saying that they have proved their worth without legislation Mrs Baird said “We saw the benefits of impact statements in the Rolf Harris case.  These statements allow the courts to know how victims have been affected by a crime, and for the perpetrator to hear how their actions can ruin lives”.

  • DELETION OF DNA RECORDS

    Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner has written to the Home Secretary expressing her alarm at plans to destroy thousands of DNA samples from a national database.
    Vera Baird QC believes it will be victims of rape and sexual violence who will ultimately suffer as a result of samples held on the national DNA database being destroyed as part of the Protection of Freedoms Act. From October police forces won’t be able to hold indefinitely the DNA of people arrested on suspicion of sexual and violent crimes if they are released without charge. Forces can apply to the biometrics commissioner to hold a sample for three years, with an extension of two years, if they have the grounds to do so.
    However it is claimed this appeals process is not yet in place. The Police and Crime Commissioner said today: “I’ve written to the Home Secretary expressing my deep concern that thousands of DNA samples could be lost. “I’ve highlighted my opposition to early deletion of DNA and my fears that critical DNA which could support future successful convictions could be lost.
    “I know the difficulties there are now in securing convictions in rape cases – it is very hard to give evidence in public about such intimate and traumatising events. However it is well known by police that in some cases rape is serial offending by the same attacker. Victims are more likely to give evidence if they believe that doing so will protect others. So if a victim knows there are other people saying that the same person raped them, they are more likely to give evidence – giving a better chance of conviction\”.
    “With this in mind DNA is invaluable as historic samples can currently be compared and matched with new evidence – which can ultimately provide closure for some victims many years down the line. If DNA is destroyed after three years this can’t happen and we’ll end up with even lower conviction rates. And while there is a lot of good working being done in Northumbria to support victims of sexual offences, the conviction rate across the country is still far too low. Ultimately it will be the victims of sexual violence and rape who will suffer as a result when what we are all trying to achieve is to increase their support and confidence in justice.”

  • The Reality of Rape Law

    Read Vera\’s piece in the Huffington Post here.

  • Cameron needs to distance himself – and politics – from the money of a convicted thief

    Read Vera’s article for LabourList.org here

  • Police candidate hails S. Tyne approach on anti-social behaviour

    The Shields Gazette reported Vera’s visit to South Tyneside to learn at first hand how the council is working with its partners to tackle crime.

  • Police commissioner candidate promises Sunderland women she will tackle domestic violence

    Read the Guardian report of Vera’s visit to Sunderland charity Wearside Women in Need.

  • Vera pledges to put victims of crime first

    Vera Baird QC, Labour’s candidate for Northumbria Police & Crime Commissioner has signed up to support Victim Support’s five basic rights for victims of crime and pledged to secure improvements in the way victims are treated by the local criminal justice system if elected in November’s elections.

    Read the full press release here